Thursday, June 12, 2008

Renal Calculi (Kidney Stone) & Role of Homeopathy

Introduction

Kidneys are the organs which help the body get rid of its waste products. These waste products are thrown out of the body through the urine. The waste products consist of various toxic substances, as well as some normal salts and minerals (which are present in excess in the body).

Normally, these salts pass easily through the urine. But, in certain conditions, the salts get deposited in the urinary tract, and this leads to the formation of a stone. Renal calculi are more prevalent in males than in females.

Definition
“Calculus” means a stone. Renal calculi refer to the formation of stones in the kidneys, which mainly consist of the aggregates of crystals of the normal constituents of urine.

Causes and risk factors
The causes can be grouped into different categories for a better understanding, as follows:

Environmental and dietary: where due to any of the these factors, there is increased excretion of the normal mineral salts present in the urine
• Decrease in the urine volume when the environmental temperature is high or the fluid intake of the patient is reduced.

Other medical conditions:
• Hyperparathyroidism (increased functioning of the parathyroid gland), which leads to increased calcium excretion in the urine, increasing the chances of stone formation.

• Ileal disease (a part of the intestine), results in increased absorption and excretion of oxalate.

Inherited conditions:
• Genetic factors also play a role in certain people.

According to the main mineral constituent of the stone, they can be of various types: oxalate calculus, phosphate calculi, uric acid and urate calculi, cystine calculi, and xanthine calculi.

Also, depending on the position of the stones in the urinary tract, they can be termed as kidney stones, bladder stones or ureteric stones.

Risk factors
• Persons with vitamin A deficiency are at a higher risk of developing kidney stone.

• Dehydration leads to increased precipitation of the salts in the kidney, hence increasing the chances of stone.

• Patients having recurrent urinary infections.

• Patients, who are on complete bed rest, are at a higher risk.

However, in developed countries, mostly, calculi are seen in healthy young people without any single predisposing factor or any abnormality in the investigations.

Screening and diagnosis
• In most of the patients, the presence of a stone is not known for a long period, unless it produces any symptoms or it is accidentally diagnosed during other investigations. Most of the stones remain silent.

• The majority of the symptoms are produced either due to the passage of the stone through the ureters (narrow tubes carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder), or due to a secondary bacterial infection.

• Pain is the leading symptom.

• In some cases, there may be a fixed renal pain in the loins, which may be aggravated by movement or while climbing the stairs.

• In majority of the cases, the patient who is previously not having any symptoms, suddenly becomes aware of the sever pain, which develops in the loins and radiates from the flanks to the groins.

• The pain starts increasing steadily and then reaches its peak within a few minutes.

• The patient may experience this intense pain for 2 hours, after which it may subside or may continue for hours or days.

• During the attack, the patient becomes anxious. He may have profuse sweating and vomiting.

• There may be an increased frequency of urination, dysuria (painful urination), strangury (painful passage of a few drops of urine), or hematuria (passage of bloody urine) during the attack.

• After the attack of renal colic subsides, there may remain a residual intermittent dull pain in the loins or back.

• Very rarely, the patient may develop complications like anuria (complete absence of urine in 24 hours), due to the obstruction of the ureters.

• Some other complications like severe infection or impaction of the stone in the ureters may occur producing severe constant pain.

Diagnosis
• Diagnosis can be easily made based on the history obtained from the patient. But, a few investigations may be advised to confirm the diagnosis.

• Urine examination: It is a very common test routinely advised for the confirmation of diagnosis of renal calculus. It may show the presence of amorphous material, or blood, or pus in case of a stone.

• Excretion urography: Here, a dye is injected in the kidneys and its excretion is recorded at specific intervals after injecting the dye, with the help of a ultrasonography.This helps to find out the non-opaque stones, their position, their size and also the functioning of the other kidney.

Treatment
• Conservative treatment is helpful only in cases of stones less than 0.5cm diameter. It consists mainly of hydrotherapy.

• The treatment aims at dissolving the stone, or aiding the passage of the stone with the urine.

• If the attempts to dissolve the stone fail, surgical intervention may b e advised, which consists of endoscopic or an open surgery.Endoscopic surgery is preferred over the open surgery now a days.

• Another way of dissolving the stones is through extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (where, shock waves generated outside the patient’s body are focused on the stone; so that it gets fragmented and can easily pass through the urinary tract.)

• Though, any of the means stated above may be helpful in eliminating the stone, there is every possibility of its recurrence.

Homoeopathic treatment
• In homoeopathy, acute remedies prescribed during an attack of renal colic, act very efficiently in relieving the pain of the patient.

• Other symptoms of burning micturition, blood in urine, painful urination, and increased frequency of urination will also be relieved.

• After the attack of the colic has subsided, we may give homoeopathic constitutional medicines based on the patient’s physique and mentality, his nature of previous complaints etc.i.e. Considering the patient as a whole, and not only his complaints of the renal stone.

• This constitutional medicine will remove from the patient, his tendency of formation of stones; and thus prevent recurrence of the stone.

• Thus, homoeopathic remedies can very effectively be used either during an acute attack of colic or during the silent period. It can effectively control the acute symptoms as well as remove the tendency of the stone formation.

Patient care
• During an attack of renal colic, bed rest is the immediate treatment

• Application of warmth to the affected site may also help in reducing the pain.

• The patients, who are diagnosed as having renal stones, are advised to drink at least 2 litres of water per day.

• Restriction of sodium intake in diet (intake of salt) to prevent recurrence of oxalate stones.

• Avoid vitamin D supplements as they increase calcium excretion in the urine.

• Also, increase dietary calcium intake, but avoid calcium supplements in the form of tablets.

2 comments:

can homoeopathy have any scope for renal calculi measuring @ 1.3-1.5 cm located in middle and inferior calyces of left kidney.pt. have had already gone through pyelonephrolithtomy 10 yrs back and ECSW treatment 5 yrs back.still having 2-3 large calculus in the same location.what s ur opinion?

I have had kidney and urine infection for months, it took 4 lots of antibiotics to clear it - but the pain is stil there. Hospital say its renal colic but cannot find a stone - bu ti am in pain - can homeopathy help.Pain in right kidney and middle of euretha all the time - sometimes i can feel it run into my leg.Diclofenic was given to me but its not suitable due to cramping andurgetn toilets.And advice?

Talk with our experts -- Find your answers to a good health

About Me

Dr.Santosh Joshi is a Classical Homeopath and practices Classical
Homeopathy in the city of Mumbai and via his various websites provides
consultation to patients from all over the world.(www.drjoshis.com,www.happylivin.com,www.homeopathywomen.com,www.homeopathyallergies.com) Dr.Joshi is working in
the field of Autism spectrum disorder for the past 13 years and is a
ardent promoter of early intervention,role of Homeopathy,Diet and
therapy in treating Autism.

Dr.Joshi looks into cases of autism ranging from mild-moderate-severe
, with the in-depth analysis and evaluation of every case we have been
able to achieve good results in treating autism.We also are a strong
advocate of the necessity of Dietary intervention and therapies which
are an essential part of the line of treatment.

We at Center for Autism follow a standard protocol for treating our
patients, we also take help of state of art Homeopathic software in
evaluating the autism case histories for the right Homeopathic medicine
which plays a crucial role in treating autism.Homeopathic medicines are
very effective in increasing the eye contact,social behavior,reducing
hyperactivity,addressing the sensory issues and in certain cases the
violent behavior due to obsessive compulsive disorder are handled with
care.

Our Center is focusing and studying various ways in which we can
effectively handle the growing cases of Autism , and also advice gluten
free casein free diet which is helpful.

Glimpses of Experience & Expertise:

12 years of Clinical experience in treating complex diseases with
Homeopathy at his Happy Livin Centre and via online consultation

Ex Director in a wellness company in the field of Homeopathy, Diet
& Nutrition, Yoga & Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani
medicine. He was also heading the Education in Homeopathy department.

Honorary Speaker at First CME held at Chokshi Auditorium in Tata Memorial Hospital on Application of Tele Medicine in Homeopathy

Honorary Speaker at Birla Matoshree Auditorium on Role of Computers in Homeopathy

Honorary Speaker at AICAR Business School on Role of Tele Medicine in Rural setup, to policy makers and budding entrepreneurs

Won a prize for his paper presentation on Successful management of a
case of Grade 4 Astrocytoma and its Homeopathic management at a all
India Level Homeopathic Case Presentation organized by BEACON foundation

Honorary Speaker at a Convocation Ceremony of Cosmetology at Trinity Academy where he spoke on - His Road to Entrepreneurship

His article on Role of Homeopathy in Autism has been published in
Homeopathy International - The Homeopathic Medical Association U.K.

His article on Don't Stress me - On Examination stress has been published in Hindustan times

Education:

Bachelor of Homoeopathic medicines and surgery (B.H.M.S) from University of Pune in the year 1999.

Training in the Institute of clinical research (ICR) Pune.

Knowledge and Professional Experience:

Dealing with Acute and Chronic cases and its management with Homoeopathic medicines.

Working in the field of treating woman's diseases with
special interest in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Fibroadenoma of
the breast, uterine fibroids. He has worked in the Gynecology and
Obstetrics department at Cantonment hospital Pune

Dealing with respiratory tract diseases with special
interest in Allergies, Bronchial Asthma as well in acute and chronic
bronchitis in children and adults and its management

Running a successful online homeopathic consultancy services since the last 10 years

Treating Diabetes and it complications. He was
associated with the dialysis unit at the Lions tarachand hospital where
he developed the interest of treating Diabetic nephropathy and other
complications of diabetes like non healing ulcers and neuropathy

He had the opportunity to work with senior
dermatologists at the cantonment hospital in pune where he saw many
patients and developed the interest in treating atopic dermatitis, Acne
vulgaris as well as roseacea, Herpes zoster and herpes simplex, Hair
loss and other skin ailments through homeopathy. He has been
successfully treating skin ailments since then

Treating patients suffering from depression and other mental disorders

Treating children who suffer from behavioral disorders and autistic complex disorder

Worked with a senior pediatrician in neonatology and pediatrics at Bhide Hospital

Worked in Lions Tarachand Bappa hospital as a resident
medical officer. Dealt with the various aspects in General surgery,
Gynecology, Neonatology, renal diseases and dialysis

Worked with a Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Sunil Keswani learned the various aspects of burns case management

Worked in the organizing committee in 2 major
International Homoeopathic Conferences in Mumbai Simillimum 2000 and
2001 held at Shanmukhanand Hall Mumbai

Organized 2 seminars during college years and visited rural medical camps and treated patients

Worked in the Organizing Committee of Simillimum 2003 conference at Birla Matushri in Mumbai

Was invited for the W.H.O sponsored seminar on Management of Geriatric diseases and its Homeopathic management